Chapter 78 Kneel in Front of Me

“She wants a Kung Fu teacher?” asked He Shuijin, shockingly, to Jiang Qizheng. “Is she kidding me? This is the lesson that never had before in girls’ schools.”

“Miss Shao told me the reason is that she wanted to reject Princess Yang to get somebody else in the school. She planned to persuade Miss Shao to be a bad person. However, Miss Shao thought that more girls in the school would help her to know Qiu Yelan better. So, she disagreed Qiu Yelan’s suggestion. Rejected by Miss Shao, Qiu Yelan proposed Kung Fu lesson.”

“I see. She learned Kung Fu from General Ruan before. If the lesson begins, she will be the best one in this part.” smiled He Shuijin.

“If it came true, she might take conspiratorial means against her classmates whom she dislikes.” To Jiang Family, it was easy to guess Qiu Yelan’s true intention as they knew her well. “Well, what a cunning girl she is! Jiang Yashuang is a gentleman. If he married this girl, he might be cowed in the future.”

“I kinda like her now.” said He Shuijin, sipping her tea. “She excels at strategies. To combat an enemy’s weakness with its own strength.”

“So, you mean, to send a Kung Fu teacher to her?” said Jiang Qizheng, having her chin cupped in her hands.

“We do have some guards who are good at Kung Fu. We can send one or two guards there teaching them showy Kung Fu. It’s not a big deal.” said He Shuijin carelessly. “But I think it’s too smooth for Commandery Princess Ningyi to get it.”

“You just said you liked her. I thought that you would be on her side then. Your true intention is to embarrass her?” said Jiang Qizheng.

“I like her, so I think I should torture her.” smiled He Shuijin. “If it were not about Jiang Yashuang, we would not have had to visit her from time to time. She might not realize that you and Princess Yongfu’s presence in her place has freed her from many troubles! She had an intensive debate with Empress Dowager Gu and others in the court. Do you think the seniors will let her go without reprisal? They just didn’t want to settle an old score with her. Or she would have died long ago.”

“Well, what’s your plan? For your record, anything you want to do, do it completely! Or Jiang Yashuang will get angry at you after he knows it. At that time, I can’t help you out.” said Jiang Qizheng.

“How can I do things that others can hold against me?” grinned He Shuijin. “I suggest we suspend this thing first. There will be a big event held in the capital recently, right? Ruan Qingyan will attend it also. We should ask Qiu Yelan to go to the event with us. So, we can make clear what’s her true intention to Ruan Qingyan… What do you think?”

Seeing Jiang Qizheng not respond immediately, He Shuijin proceeded,” You think about it. We are trying our best to help her. But on the other side, she has a crush on Ruan Qingyan… At this point, what are we doing now, Huh?”

“But this event…” said Jiang Qizheng with a frown. The activity like Courtesan Competition was not appropriate for girls. It is Okay for the young master of Jiang Family to attend. But girls’ attendance will be regarded as morality breakers…”

It was said that the majority of members of Jiang Family’s were not rules followers, but depending on what rules they broke.

He Shuijin smiled and said, “You thought Jiang Yashuang is a simple boy. But now what about you? Aren’t you flexible now? Think about it, Commandery Princess Ningyi is still in her mourning period. She probably won’t go to the Courtesan Competition. We all know what kind of place the Courtesan Competition is. What we need to do is to get a private room nearby and go there under a guise. As the date of Courtesan Competition is approaching, I think it is not a big deal for us to go there watching it. I don’t think people will judge us.”

Patting He Shuijin on her shoulder, Jiang Qizheng was displeased, “I have to spend all my time to entertain grandmother and aunts. But look at you. You are a busy girl. You have been to many places and gone through a lot. Is it reasonable you have more ideas?”

“So, Sister He, can I ask you to give us details about your plan?”

He Shuijin was a quick thinker. She said, “It’s easy. There is a pot of crabapple bonsai in Madame’s flowerbed, which was a birthday gift sent by Commandery Princess Ningyi’s father, Qiu Zhongyan, the Duke of Xihe. You borrow the pot from Madame and hold a crabapple bonsai poem party. I think Commandery Princess Ningyi will definitely be here.”

“Your suggestion is excellent. That will make Commandery Princess Ningyi remind her father.” said Jiang Qizheng happily. She stood up and continued, “So, Miss He, you sit over here drinking your tea. I will go and borrow the flower.”

Qiu Yelan, the girl living next to the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe did not realize their plot. She was looking up and down the newcomers in the girl’s school — Qiu Mingzhu and Sheng Shishui.

Qiu Yelan took a glance at Qiu Mingzhu and turned quickly to Sheng Shishui whom drew her interests. “Sheng Shishui is a distant relative of Princess Yang. She was asked to be in the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe on purpose… It is so clear that she was sent here against me.”

Miss Sheng seemed like only fourteen years old. She was pretty with bright eyes. The long black hair was shaped in a bun. There was a long gold hairpin tipped on the hair. The dove’s egg size pearl hanged on it, glistening in the sun.

She dressed in a suitable green skirt. The light green showed off the delicate and white skin of the girl.

“No idea what tricks Princess Yang used to get those girls over here?” thought Qiu Yelan. Now she’s not very well informed. She had no idea who Sheng Shishui was. She got to know her a little after Sheng Shishui introduced herself and her relationship with Princess Yang. She turned to her and said in a huff, “Please have a seat.”

They had been standing in the room for over half an hour. Finally, they could sit down for a rest. Qiu Mingzhu kept lowering her head, avoiding eye contact with Qiu Yelan who had a resentful sight.

Sheng Shishui said thanks to her. She was composed and calm, not showing any resentment.

“I am Okay with Qiu Mingzhu over here studying with me.” said Qiu Yelan. Su He had prepared tea for them. “But Miss Sheng, I sincerely concerned about you.”

“Please give me some advice!” said Sheng Shishui with a leisurely smile.

“My brother is old enough to get married.” said Qiu Yelan. “My younger brother is also old enough to know the sex. As you know, there are males in the house. Although Miss Sheng is one of the distant relatives of my family, it is far distant anyway. Your frequent presence over here may taint your reputation!”

Qiu Mingzhu turned pale. She thought, “The bitch, she is truly eloquent!”

Sheng Shishui might be despised if she insisted on studying over here according to Qiu Yelan’s meaning. If rumblings were passed to Miss Ding, Sheng Shishui might be in an unfavorable position after getting married.

Yet Sheng Shishui smiled, seeming nothing serious to her, “Your Grace, you are right. I also thought that it was inappropriate to come here when Princess Yang told me. But Princess Yang promised my grandmother that the girl’s school is close to your house. Usually, the boys won’t come over here. So, my grandmother nodded her suggestion.”

Well, well. Her words made her shine among them — The meaning was that she did not beg to come here. It was Princess Yang who forced her to come.

Qiu Yelan smiled meaningfully, “Oh, I see. No more questions for me. As you also want to have lessons with Miss Shao. Welcome!”

“Thank you, Cousin Yelan.” said Qiu Mingzhu. She did not know whether she should be happy or sad about her words. What she was happy about was that she could report to Princess Yang that she became Qiu Yelan’s classmate. What she was worried about was that she had no clue what would happen to her in the future…

Sitting there with mixed feelings, Qiu Yelan saw that Sheng Shishui began to establish a relationship with her. Sheng Shishui took out a beautifully embroidered handkerchief and told Qiu Yelan that this was made by herself in a hurry as a gift. “I made it in a hurry. It may not be in good quality. Hope you don’t mind.” said she.

Qiu Yelan took a glance at Su He. She quickly went forward and got it, unfolding it in front of Qiu Yelan. There were a few light color flowers on the handkerchief. A pair of egrets flew highly on the diagonal of the handkerchief. Obviously, Sheng Shishui realized that Qiu Yelan was in her mourning period when she made the handkerchief. This was a rule that a person who was in a mourning period should not use bright color stuff. She was so good at embroidery that the handkerchief looked elegant and vivid. In particular, the eyes of the egrets made the egrets alive.

“You are so good at that stuff. I don’t think that anybody can outpace you over this.” said Qiu Yelan, ordering Su He to bring it in. She proceeded carelessly, “Thanks for your gift.”

“You’re welcome. Happy to know you like it,” said Sheng Shishui modestly.

“Chunran, go and show them around the girl’s school. And don’t forget to clean up a room for them.” commanded Qiu Yelan after she put aside the gift. “Only the students studying in the girl’s school are allowed to enter. You go and clean the room in the corner with others later. Those who go to the school too early should await in that room and not allowed to go around in the yard. If anyone who breaks the rule, you tell me. Although the school is in my yard, it is also my private place. Nobody is allowed to bother me without notice! Are you clear?”

“Yes, Your Grace.” said Chunran, lowering her head. Qiu Mingzhu and Sheng Shishui knew well that what she said, actually, was for them.

Sheng Shishui smiled sweetly and said, “It’s our honor to be your classmates. We should abide by any rules.”

“That’s good.” nodded Qiu Yelan. “I don’t know you before. That means we are neither friends nor enemies. I think we should be like this here and forever. It’s good for you!”

Did this mean that she was sure she would be the winner in any fight? Her words aroused Sheng Shishui’s enthusiasm for victory. Yet she calmed herself down and said politely, “Yes, Your Grace. We will.”

Chunran walked them out of the room. Su He came in with a plate of cherry. She whispered, “Your Grace, I think you shouldn’t let them stay here.”

“So what? If not, Princess Yang must gossip me everywhere that I want to be independent of the Prince’s Mansion.” said Qiu Yelan. “In particular, the money for the school’s renovation and Miss Shao’s salary is paid by the Prince’s Mansion. From this point, it is justifiable for Princess Yang to ask Qiu Mingzhu to come here.”

“What about Miss Sheng…”

“She hadn’t even turned 14 yet.” said Qiu Yelan, disdainfully.

“But you are also only thirteen!” reminded Su He. “She is older than you!”

“But I am much smarter than her.” said Qiu Yelan, chewing cherry. “I won’t lose to her. I’m sure!”

“Yes, yes. You are right! You are the smartest one! However, there are so many things waiting for you, which may distract your attention from Miss Sheng.” said Su He.

“Is she a girl worthy of my attention?” said Qiu Yelan, picked up a cherry and put it into Su He’s mouth. “The reason she is here is to make trouble for me and get some useful message. But it is no sense to make trouble for me except they will feel relieved. And about spying me, we can use this to find out who is undercover in this yard.”

“The thing we will handle tomorrow is our top priority! To concern this girl is placing the unimportant before the important!”

Su He asked excitedly in a low voice, “Old Princess’s dowry list…?”

“Xiaran just reported to me that granduncle Lian had received the stuff!” nodded Qiu Yelan. “Fortunately, Mistress Bian is pregnant and Qiu Mengmin is getting better now. This piece of news divert people’s attention on us for not forgiving them and attempt to kill him when God stands on our side!”